The buyers were asking for fairly mundane items to remain at closing, like the tools for the fireplace, the sponge-squeegee contraption used to wash the skylights, and the pulsating showerhead. “Nope, nope, nope,” said the seller.

How about the swimming pool equipment and the shelves over the washer and dryer? “Again, no.”

Did he want me to go though the entire list, or was he going to deny every request? “I’m probably going to say ‘no’ to everything they want,” he says. “I wanted $40,000 more, and they said ‘no’ to that, so I’m loading my truck right up to the roof.”